Acme Studios, supporting art and artists since 1972

International Residencies Programme

Created and managed by Acme Studios since 1987, the Acme Studios International Residencies Programme (Acme IRP) enables international governments, cultural agencies and foundations to offer artists major work/live residencies in London.

On behalf of our partner institutions, Acme IRP acts as a strategic advisor and representative, negotiating accommodation, workspace and services, and providing social and cultural support for visiting residents.

Visiting residents are practising artists, curators, writers, musicians, composers, designers and architects. All residencies are based in East London, an area which has become the centre for visual artists' studios and galleries, attracting people from all over the world. Visiting residency holders are selected by the relevant partner organisations.

Through supporting artists to undertake a developmental residency in London, organisations also underpin their own cultural, social and developmental policy objectives within an international context. Acme IRP works closely with its partners to ensure that residency programmes successfully deliver long-term benefits to both the artist and the institution.

Acme IRP does not receive residency applications directly from artists. If you are interested in applying for a residency in London, please contact the relevant organisation via their website. We currently manage 22 residencies annually, working with eight partner institutions from: 

Australia

Australia Council for the Arts

Canada

Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec (CALQ)

Germany

Hessische Kulturstiftung 

Portugal

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian 

Sweden

IASPIS

Switzerland

Zuger Kulturstiftung Landis & Gyr
The Swiss Federal Office of Culture (BAK)
Aargauer Kuratorium 

Contact

If you are interested in how Acme IRP can help your organisation establish a London Residency Programme, please see Establishing residencies for artists in London in 'Further Reading'. Or to discuss your specific needs, please contact:

Lea O’Loughlin (Manager, International Residencies Programme)
Acme IRP
44 Copperfield Road,
Bow, London, E3 4RR
T 00 44 (0)20 8981 6811
E lea@acme.org.uk

Claremont Court home to five international residencies. Photo: Acme Studios (2009)
‘Acme operates with supreme professionalism, managing simultaneously to be rigorously business-like and sensitively aware of the various needs of artists.’

Siân Ede, Deputy Director, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK), Acme Bulletin (Oct 2008)

Further Reading

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CLICK TO ENLARGE Schoolbell Mews, IASPIS Residency. Photo: Acme Studios (2009)

CLICK TO ENLARGE Exterior of Claremont Court which houses the BAK, Gulbenkian and Quebec residencies. Photo: Acme Studios(2009)

CLICK TO ENLARGE Studio space at Smithy Street, Landis & Gyr.